The Mayan calendar has just about run out. Some people think we’re facing the end of the world. I feel fine though, and I’m sure you do too, so let’s be rational about things. Odds are, we’ll be going about our normal routine come December 22, 2012. Still, those who were really hoping for an apocolypse scenario and a chance to prove their strength have another way to channel those feelings.

See, a common scenario in video games and other media is working to stop the end of the world. It’s so common that it’s a trope! Which means if you’re really worried about December 21, 2012 being our last day, you could play a game about the end of the world and try to save the virtual world. Even if you don’t believe the end is near, you can still play an “end of the world” game to be ironic.

So go ahead, take GamerTell’s suggestion and try playing these 10 games before the end of the world!

Avalon Code (DS)

The world is 100% going to end and you can’t stop it. However, you are the Chosen One and are given a Book of Prophecy. Anything you scan (whack) with the book will be around when the world is remade after the apocolypse. In the meantime, you can tweak people/monsters/things’ entries in the book to change their properties.

Chrono Trigger (DS, PS1, PS3, PSP, SNES, Vita, Wii, Android, iOS)

The end of the world is coming in 1999, when Lavos will descend and destroy everything. However, Chrono and his friends Luca and Marle in the year 1000 have the ability to travel through time. Players then help the group go through different time periods to prepare and keep Lavos from destroying everything. Chrono Trigger is especially awesome since there people can fight Lavos at practically any time, resulting in different endings.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (PS3, Xbox 360, Windows)

I’d say accepting your role as the dragonborn and heading out to stop Alduin the World-Eater from destroying the world via dragons counts. Well, providing you don’t get distracted by becoming a mage, building a house or collecting books along the way.

Final Fantasy VII (PS1, PS3, PSP, Vita, Windows)

Again, spoiler warning is moot here. Sephiroth goes crazy and decides he wants to destroy the world for the sake of his “mother,” Jenova, and Cloud and his companions have to go fight him to save everyone. Though really, this end of the world situation comes up in practically every Final Fantasy game, so you could pick a more recent installment like Final Fantasy X or Final Fantasy XIII-2 if you prefer.

Halo (Xbox, Xbox 360)

I think we’ve come to a point where spoilers warnings from the original Halo are moot. Whenever the Flood appears, Halos activate to kill everything to stop them. So Master Chief has to stop the Halo to save the world, while also fighting all kinds of malevolent aliens.

Mass Effect Trilogy (PS3, Xbox 360, Windows)

The whole point of the trilogy is to help Commander Shepard find out as much as possible about the Reapers and rally the galaxy to fight them in the hopes they can be stopped. If they don’t, the cycle continues and all space-faring species, like humans, asari, turians, krogans, salarians, drell, volus, hanar and elcor, will be wiped out.

Odin Sphere (PS2, PS3)

The world is 100%, definitely going to end. That’s what Ragnarok does. However, Gwendolyn, Oswald, Velvet, Cornelius and Mercedes’ actions and roles in the final battle could result in things working out okay in the end.

Persona 3 (PS2, PSP)

The world is ending, strange creatures called Shadows are appearing at night during an additional hour that’s crept into the day and the only way to stop it is to send a group of teenagers, with a dog and a kid, out to fight. Depending on your actions, you save the day. (For now.)

Star Ocean: Till the End of Time (PS2)

You don’t realize it until you’re past the halfway point of the game, but Star Ocean: The Second Story is about the end of the universe as we know it! The twist is, it’s a rather unexpected way to end it. The game starts with it seeming like Fayt and his friends are involved in an alien attack, but after about the halfway point the group learns it’s the end of the world. Your actions, naturally, can stop that from happening.

Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (PS3, Vita, Xbox 360)

Galactus will destroy the world if your team of three Marvel and/or Capcom characters doesn’t bring the beat-down in the story mode.

If you’re looking for a suggestion, I highly recommend going with Halo or Marvel vs. Capcom 3 for your end of the world gaming. Both are multiplayer games, after all, and if you’re really serious about the world ending, it’d probably be best do something with family and friends.